as of late

Erik is making me breakfast -- what a good husband. I am between night shifts and I would usually be snuggled in my bed by now, but the smell of perogies is more than enough to keep my tired eyes open.

I thought I'd take a moment to say hello! I keep meaning to, but my best intentions are obviously not motivation enough.

I haven't been up to much. Knitting. Watching Nashville (don't judge). Working. And hardly seeing my husband due to our opposite schedules. Oh, I also started the Book Thief. I've been reading it sporadically and enjoying it.

Some of my siblings are coming out this weekend for Family Day, which Erik and I are both looking forward to. It is my first weekend off in a while and I am looking forward to a few days of family fun.

I finally took down our Christmas decorations. Our dead tree is still in the living room, but I already miss having decorations up. Christmas is the only time my house is decorated. It's the only time I actually hang things up and make thinks look nice. Now our living room is bare and uninviting again. I need to do something about that. There is so much wall space though! Too.much.space.

Breakfast is ready. Sorry for the lame post.Maybe my nieces will liven things up??
Shawna, I'm alive!

this and that.

I'm not complaining, but I need to state the obvious: shift work is awful. This whole day/night thing is just terrible and I can feel myself aging every set. I struggle switching from nights back to days -- I sluggishly wander around for a few days trying to straighten myself out.

Today is one of those days. I went for a walk with my ma and my nieces to make myself feel alive and it definitely helped. Those girls cure most ailments.

I still have my Christmas decorations up. I love Christmas -- it's the only time my house is decorated.

It's time for me to get back on the meal-planning bandwagon. Erik has started school again so he is incredibly busy. I like to cover all the cooking while he's busy doing schoolwork and that involves some intense planning. I pre-make meals the day before I start a set so we have enough food for the four days I'm working. Also, meal-planning saves money. On that note, does anyone have any favourite recipes they feel like sending my way???

I love having my sister live in Kelowna. I thoroughly enjoy being able to stop by for a quick visit whenever I'm in town.

And that is that. For now. 

{this moment}

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

*** *** *** ***

{this moment}

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

*** *** *** ***

quick photo update

August began with a birthday for these two -- I can't believe they are already one! I suppose missing half of their first year made it pass by much more quickly. We had brunch and a cake smash to celebrate Peyton and Avery's first birthday.

The day after their birthday we headed down to Western Washington to visit Erik's family and attend the wedding of a friend. Little Miss was the flower girl as her uncle was getting married. She was adorable (as always).

After the wedding Maelle joined us at my in-laws and camped in the backyard with us.

Erik's grandparents were in town so we got to spend some time visiting with them. I haven't seen them in a few years so it was nice to catch up again.

On the way home from Washington we stopped to visit an old friend and to meet a new friend... his new friend. We stayed longer than anticipated but it was fun to catch up with Joel and to get to know Brianna.

And that is about as much energy as I have post-night-shift.

Erik and I are heading to Harrison Hot Springs for a couple nights -- I cannot wait!! I feel as though we have hardly seen each other lately. The weather is supposed to be terrible, but we'll have a good time anyway. 

Photo Recap.

Too much has happened since Erik and I parted ways at the beginning of June. Well not too much, but more than I have the desire to recount here. Instead of using words I am going to post a few photos to summarize a bit of what I have been up to. So here we go.

Lynn was working the first week I was in Australia so I had plenty of time to walk and enjoy the nearby seaside. It was blissful.

Above is a photo of my favourite place in Port Stephens. We whale watched here and I grew incredibly fond of the area. 

Train ride en route to Kuranda. 

A cute Kangaroo. 

We attended the Good Food and Wine Show in Sydney. Hello Chef Stone!

Of course, the Opera House. 

Cuddles on my return home. 

Miss Avery Sharlene. Such a sweet face. 

Camping in Clearwater. We went for my nephew's baseball tournament. 

And I still have many photos on my camera to upload. My time home has been spent with family and friends and I have been perfectly busy.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

*** *** *** ***

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a fabulous weekend!

the girls in their emma's.

I had the Abba and Bronco's tunics knit up months ago, but it took until last week to actually finish them. I know... typical me. The important thing is that I actually finished them! Yippee!!! It's been a while, but do you remember them?? Abba's Emma and Bronco's Emma??

They're little Emma Tunic's knit in size 6-12 months, but they fit right now as little dresses. Don't Peyton and Avery look sweet in them?? Don't they look sweet anyway? Oh this auntie just love love loves them.

And I'm not the only one. Everyone I know adores these two... and how could they not? I keep saying that the only thing better than one smiling, cooing, and giggling baby is two smiling, cooing and giggling babies. And that is their usual state, despite what these photos show.

Sawyer wouldn't leave their side when we were at my parent's. She was rubbing their faces, holding their hands, petting their heads, and asking to hold them. Peyt even gave Sawy a few smiles which she seemed to enjoy.

But I digress. Back to the little tunics, though I suppose I have nothing more to say about them expect that I wanted them to be similar, but not the same. So I used the same colours, but made different patterned tunics and I was happy with the way they turned out. Maybe even more than happy... thrilled even.

But I'm even more thrilled about the wee ones wearing said tunics. They're something special.

Happy Halloween

The girls know their Auntie is about to tromp around the globe and they are acutely aware of my sorrow over not being able to see Africa on this excursion. They decided to bring Africa to me instead and came over dressed as a itty bitty elephant and a wittle zebra. They were deliciously adorable and it took everything in me to not squeeze them to bits.

Typical -- Avery pissed off and Peyton just hanging out. 

The cutest little elephant I have ever seen. 

Pretty Peyt.  

These girls are just too much some times. Most times. 

Gah! I just love them.

I know there are too many pictures here, but I just couldn't resist!  

Aren't they sweet?

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a lovely weekend! 

*** *** ***

not-so-happy

Lindsey and Adrian took the girls to Edmonton for two weeks. They just came home on Sunday and I got to spend a little time with the babes while Mama went for an oil change and something or other. I don't think the girls were too happy to be left with their now stranger-of-an-auntie.

I hate to admit it, but they were both crying within 15 minutes of Lindsey being gone -- they realized their Ma had abandoned them and left them with me, someone who looked and sounded a bit like her, but didn't smell right.

What do you do when you have two tiny screaming children?

Well, if you're me, the first thing you do is snap a quick picture. They were a bit comical really, they have completely distinct wails. Avery's lungs are definitely more powerful and she was just giving 'er. Peyton seemed to be screaming in solidarity to her sister.

L'il P quit crying as soon as I snapped the first photo. The clicking of the camera seemed more interesting than whatever her younger sister was screeching about. Aves just kept on hollering.

How do you actually calm two upset little ones? Well, I piled them on top of each other and rocked/bounced them until they both seemed content. Poor Avery is bigger so she had to support her sister's weight. She didn't seem to mind though -- they're close like that. I eventually had the two of them suspiciously inspecting me.

And they went back to loving me and smiling. Phewf!

Aren't they just darling?

keepin it real

I often want to share every detail of my day. This is especially true when there are tiny people involved in those days. In keeping with my current desire for simplicity, I will keep my words few(er than normal).

My days off have been so full. Full of children. Full of laughter. Full of joy. Full of family. Full.

I babysat the neighbour twins while I had Maelle and Sawyer over. The four little ones played wonderfully all afternoon. Sawy and Maelle spent the night.

My mother, sister, littlest nieces and I ventured to the coast for 24 hours to celebrate my Oma's 86th birthday. Oma didn't know we were coming and when we brought the babies in she got down on her hands and knees so she could see them in their little car seats. She had tears in her eyes as she marveled at them. It was pretty special.

My sweet Little Miss slept over again last night. She slept for 13 hours and it was awesome. She even let me put her hair into french braids in the morning.

  And now it's back to work.

never posted

I didn't realize I never posted this. These pictures, taken when the girls were less than 24 hours old, make me laugh. I love doing this to babies.

 Super Squishy Avery.

Not so Squishy Peyton.

three weeks!

The girls are three weeks old today! They were weighed on Monday and they were both exactly a pound heavier than they were at birth. Peyton was 7lb 2oz and Avery was 7lb 15oz. I try to visit as much as I can, but it's never quite enough.

This is Peyton in her "leisure suit". We like to call her little pants "loosies" because they are anything but tight on her little self.

Travel plans are no further than they were before. We are hoping to go to South America (mainly Peru and Brazil), Scotland to visit friends of ours who are living there for a few years, and then to South East Asia. I'm trying to convince Erik to let me go to Australia when he comes home to go to Alaska, but he isn't going for it yet. Something about wanting to come along... We are hoping to leave in January and to come back in June so E can go fishing again.

We're heading to the coast this weekend. My niece is doing her Profession of Faith and Lindsey is bringing the babies to meet their aunties and uncles and greats. There's a shower for Lindsey and the girls on Monday night, but I'm back to work Tuesday morning so I will be missing those festivities. Oh well, sharing my nieces with thirty+ women isn't my idea of fun anyway.

Well, I'm off to work. Have a good night!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Wishing you a fabulous weekend!  

*** *** ***

snuggling sisters/baby bits

I am so tired. I don't have much to say today, but then I never really do so it doesn't matter. I am sure you have already prepared to be inundated with photos of Peyton and Avery, but in case you aren't, be warned. I couldn't resist putting these girls together to snuggle yesterday. They're just too cute! And they loved it... or at least they slept through it.

Today we gave them tummy time and they crawled their way off the blanket they were on. It was adorable and hilarious. And they didn't seem to mind being on their bellies. These little girlies were very awake today. For a bit, at least. I enjoyed seeing something other than the stink eye from them.

Miss Peyton is an old soul. She is a little grumpy grandpa and she always looks like she has you figured out. She scowls and peers through a barely open eye and is oh-so-sweet. So very sweet. She is so petite and hates nursing, but loves drinking her mama's milk from a bottle. Her little mouth is so tiny! Peyt's hair is darker than Avery's and she has more... angular features. She is 100% Jansen and, therefore, 100% adorable.

And Little Avery is nearly a pound bigger than her older sister. She is so round all over -- her face, cheeks, body, everything. She is often more alert than Peyton and she is pinker than her. She looks like the perfect little gerber baby. She has blond eyebrows and eyelashes and her hair is lighter than Peyton's. Avery has an adorable birthmark on her inner leg right above her ankle. I actually adore this birthmark of hers. She is 100% Neale and, strangely enough, manages to be 100% adorable as well.

I couldn't be more in love with these girls. They are delightful.